They like their history at Tottenham Hotspur and on their return to Europe's grandest stage, they appeared hell-bent on winding back the clock to ensure that the club maintained one of their age-old traditions – always do things the hard way and put the supporters through the wringer.

When Bill Nicholson's fabled Double winners made Tottenham's only previous foray into the European Cup, way back in the 1961-62 season, they shipped four goals in their opening tie to Gornik in Poland before clawing back to 4-2. In the return leg in north London, they romped home after an 8-1 win.

Harry Redknapp's class of 2010 flirted with disaster here in Switzerland's capital after a horror show in the first half-hour left them three goals down and on the brink of elimination. Last season's blood, sweat and tears looked set to be flushed down the drain. Weren't Young Boys, fourth from bottom in the Swiss Super League, supposed to be out of form?

But after Sébastien Bassong had fashioned a lifeline for Tottenham out of the chaos just before the interval, an improved second-half showing climaxed with Roman Pavlyuchenko fastening onto a neat ball from the substitute Robbie Keane to crash high into the near corner. Questions might be asked of the Young Boys goalkeeper Marco Wolfli but Tottenham were not complaining.

Spurs' travelling supporters, who will most probably wake up without their voices, drank in a heady cocktail of delirium and relief. They live to fight for next Wednesday's return and they will be fancied to progress. Nobody, however, can rule out further drama.

It was no exaggeration to suggest that this was a tie with the capacity to shape destinies. Redknapp had insisted that the guaranteed £10m that comes with qualification to the Champions League group stage was not on his mind yet it did have ramifications for his transfer budget. The Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy does not want to commit his latest tranche of money until he knows for certain whether his club will dine at Europe's top table or return to the Europa League. Redknapp's top targets are now the Sevilla striker Luís Fabiano and the free agent defender William Gallas.

This was principally about dreams, however, and one or two fluttered when the Champions League aria played before the kick-off. Tottenham's players had long imagined the moment. Now it was upon them.

It appeared to freeze them. Tottenham have not endured more nightmarish starts in recent years. Young Boys opened at a high tempo, working the ball slickly, pressing aggressively and the breakthrough goal had been advertised. Senad Lulic took aim from the edge of the penalty area and, with Heurelho Gomes beaten, the ball rebounded off the post.

Tottenham's players struggled to come to terms with the artificial surface, which had been watered in the countdown to kick-off. Touches had to be sure; passes precise, ideally along the ground. Think five-a-side imperatives. Only Luka Modric looked comfortable for Tottenham at the outset.

Redknapp's team were starring into the abyss before they seemingly had time to clear their heads. First the outstanding Thierry Doubai's shot hit his own player, Ammar Jemal, and when it broke, Lulic finished coolly.

Giovani dos Santos fluffed a one-on-one chance to equalise before Doubai drove from central midfield and, with Michael Dawson turning like an oil tanker, Henri Bienvenu streaked away to beat Gomes. Worse followed when Moreno Costanzo exposed Bassong with a slide-rule through ball and Xavier Hochstrasser was in for No3.

Redknapp took decisive action, substituting Benoît Assou-Ekotto for Tom Huddlestone, and shuffling his pack to match up Young Boys in a 4-2-3-1 formation. How Tottenham needed a goal and it arrived, out of the blue, when Bassong met Gareth Bale's left-wing corner with a towering leap and the header to match. Young Boys are not known for keeping clean sheets. Jermain Defoe then missed a headed chance. It was breathless stuff.

Redknapp suffered another blow when Modric was forced off at the interval but Tottenham, having perhaps digested a half-time tirade from their manager of Nicolas Anelka-proportions, emerged with the bit between their teeth. There was more poise from them in possession; greater sharpness and urgency in all departments.

Huddlestone began to assert himself; Defoe and Pavlyuchenko began to flicker. There was yet another set-back, though, when Defoe pulled up and had to be substituted. On bounded Keane, whose transfer market admirers will note that he is now cup-tied.

Young Boys had chances on the counter. Bienvenu headed off target and the substitute Christian Schneuwly twice blazed high when gloriously placed. He was the villain of the piece for the home team. Yet the last word went to Pavlyuchenko and Tottenham have hope again.